Page 99 of Yours, For Now

Gabe: That's sweet. I'm sorry I missed it.

The cookies were delicious, thank you

Lina: It's fine. It's not like I can be

surprised. Maybe I can see you tonight?

Gabe: Can't. I'm working late for a meeting

with Tokyo. We're doing reviews with a

few international offices and I can't move

a lot of stuff around. I'm not even going

to soccer this time. I also have a call with

the team in New Delhi tomorrow, but

maybe Thursday for soccer?

Lina: Sure, I'll be there.

Gabe: Sorry, Lina.

Lina: No, I get it. This is a good reminder, too.

Gabe: I have to go now. Text tomorrow?

Lina: talk tomorrow

Gabe: Good night.

The Fall tournament over, the league had returned to the usual training schedule. For the first time since this whole thing began, I'd known that Lina would come to the game, and I'd been looking forward to it all day.

"Godspeed, Gabe!"

I ran through the field, sprinting toward the ball, a guy from the other team running next to me to mark me. We both chuckled at Lina's encouragement.

I caught the ball, played with the ball between my feet, managed a rainbow flick, kicked, and scored. Like a damn peacock, I showed off for my girlfriend. To fully make the point, I ran to her, standing at the edge of the field, and I stole a quick kiss from her.

The game resumed around me and I joined the play my team had begun, half my mind still on Lina. After a deliriously wonderful thirty-six hours, we'd spent most of Sunday working together in my condo. We'd researched our competition for the stadium deal, and began collecting it in an analysis spreadsheet that seemed quite promising. She went back home that night, and then we'd spent the next few days catching up with work. This Thursday was the first time we could see each other properly, instead of reducing our evenings to work through dinners together. And, instead of us continuing to explore each other's bodies and connecting in different ways, I was running behind a ball with a bunch of other guys.

The final whistle rang across the space, and I stood among my teammates catching my breath. My hands on my hips, I gazed around the people I spent four to eight hours a week with, and wondered if I could let it go. If I stopped playing, these could be hours I spent with Lina.

I still wasn't sure how I could make it work with her, and do it all.

A gentle hand rested on my back, and I turned to see Lina smiling at me.

"Good game. I brought your things." She held my bag forward, my water bottle on the other hand.

I kissed her cheek. "Thank you."

I dropped my bag to the floor and found my towel, which I gave to Lina. My shirt stuck to me, and I took it off quickly. I dried the excess sweat with it and dropped it to the floor, before reaching for my water bottle. Squeezing it, I sprayed water on my face and chest, and sighed.

"Do you do this on purpose?" Lina stared at me with a smirk and a glint in her eye.

"Do what on purpose?" I took the towel from her and dried up.